Welcome to The Warrior Way, the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District podcast where we talk about all things WBSD. My name is Mark Greathead, the Superintendent of the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District, and I’ll be your host as we celebrate where we’ve been, what we’re doing, and where we’re going.

As the school year winds down and summer break approaches, our students will soon have a lot more unstructured time - which often means more time spent online.

That’s why today’s episode is focused on online safety - an essential conversation for families to have as we prepare for those long summer days. Whether your child is gaming, scrolling through social media, or video chatting with friends, it’s critical to make sure they’re doing it safely and responsibly.

To help walk us through best practices, risks, and practical tools for families, I’m joined by our Director of Technology, Lyndsay Johnson-Lemieux. Lyndsay, welcome!

The Risks Parents Should Know

The big five are:

1. Cyberbullying – hurtful messages, exclusion from group chats, impersonation accounts.
2. Inappropriate Content – violence, explicit language, or materials that aren't age-appropriate.
3. Online Predators – adults posing as kids to build relationships and gain trust.
4. Privacy Risks – accidentally sharing personal info like their address or school.

Gaming Risks – exposure to strangers in chat, in-game purchases, or playing games with mature content.

Using Parental Controls Effectively

Almost every device has some form of built-in controls. Here are a few parents can look into:

• Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link let you set app limits, block websites, and monitor screen time.
• Many streaming and gaming platforms have age restrictions and content filters.

You can install third-party tools like Bark or Qustodio for real-time alerts and reports.

What Is Cyberbullying and How to Address It

Cyberbullying is something no child should have to experience, but unfortunately, it’s common. How can parents recognize and respond to it?

First, watch for changes in behavior - like withdrawal, anxiety after using devices, or suddenly deleting accounts. If your child is being bullied online:

• Listen without judgment. Let them talk.
• Document the messages or posts.
• Report the content on the platform.
• Contact your child’s school. We take reports seriously and can help mediate or support.

go-to resources for parents?

Helpful Resources

Here are three excellent places to start:

Common Sense Media – reviews and guides for apps, movies, games.

NetSmartz – interactive safety lessons for kids and parents.

Family Online Safety Institute– tools for digital parenting.

Book: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt